NOT for beginners!

This DVD was a real disappointment to me. I have practiced yoga for 3 years and never yet been to a class where the postures are held for such a long time. I'm sure if you're really strong already you might manage but my muscles were totally shaking and that is not what yoga is about. Someone who has not fitness at all could really hurt themselves doing this DVD. I found the instructor's voice really irritating and didn't enjoy it at all.

Joy N-G has me hooked and wanting more!

Having experienced a yoga session at my local fitness and leisure club thinking 'never again' I bought this DVD and it sat on the shelf for months. After a particularly difficult period in my life I finally did it! I have spent an hour of my life everyday for the past week learning to tune into my inner self. I agree with other reviews that the stretches may seem quite basic although not a walkover if you have not exercised for a long time and are quite stiff. This is a gentle introduction, you are totally in control so you can learn at your own pace. I did not have a teacher yanking my arm 'into position' and tearing my muscles. It is more than 'do-able' and I have noticed a difference already, not just in my overall flexibility but also my piece of mind. Thanks to Joy I feel confident to now start a class again. I personally find her voice very soothing and only wish that she would hurry up and make another DVD for intermediate level!

Total inspiration

This is different to the more 'exercise based' dvds I have used (Yogalates for Weight Loss/Barbara Currie's 7 Secrets) and I was a bit daunted at first in keeping up with Simon's flowing faster and more energisng first section. But having worked through a few repeats it started to take over on autopilot. Loved the slower one, it proved marvellous for deep stretching but I used some of the more simple postures (nice to see Simon demonstrating these). Truly beautifully filmed and produced, he goes beyond most teachers and encourages you to seek a deeper level of understanding or being in tune with body movement within stillness. As I'm home based for yoga I found this really motivating and will be joining him on that fab CA beach regularly. Deserves to be a number 1.

Bollyrobics: Highly recommend!

This is a great and fun cardio workout. Divided into 3 sections, each to a great song with a super beat, this is a top notch DVD. Each section has a warm up and cool down, plus a step by step routine break down and a section where you get to put it all together. The instructions are superb, and clear. I very highly recommend this DVD to anyone who wants a fun, fresh workout.

Kick start your fitness regime with Mr M!

I bought this dvd to kick start my fitness regime but hardly use it anymore because I don't find it challenging enough. Saying that, it's great when you haven't got long to exercise (each section lasts only 7 minutes) and you can combine various sections and get a fairly good workout.
My main criticism would be that it feels like you're forever stopping and starting so it's hard to really get going. The pyramid workouts are pretty challenging however, especially the second one. I also like the soca calypso sections because you learn some good dance moves. It takes a while to get the hang of though!
Overall I think this is a great dvd to ease you in to a regular fitness regime. It's very easy to adapt to a busy lifestyle and the exercises really work. One thing I notice is that most of Mr Motivator's moves are adopted in other fitness dvd's like Natalie Cassidy's. Mr Motivator is a very reliable and trusted instructor. I only wish that he'd bring out a more challenging dvd or that some of his old VHS workouts be converted to dvd format. He's the original and best!

High impact but

I'm a bit of a fitness fanatic and love high energy, high impact cardio exercises. I do a couple of DVD's before work in the morning as well as my normal gym routine in the evenings so I do do a lot, and I know how far I can push my body. I like the way this DVD has a lot of cardio but I found it so repetative with the moves. The most irritating thing for me is the pressure the exercise puts on the knees, without any warning or alternative exercises if you have bad knees.
If you like high cardio and dont have problems with your knees - then this is a good workout and I have to admit a zillion times better than I expected from Colleen.

Jo

This workout is harsh but saying that it's the best home workout I've ever owned and I have a few!! She really kicks ass and is great at keeping you going. You break out into a sweat in the warm up and results are quick. I recommend this to anyone who is serious about getting fit and toned in a short amount of time.

I love it!

I've tried some of the other 10 minute solutions before, but have never found one as fun as this. I bought it thinking it would be fun to change my routine and when I put it on, I had to do the whole 50 minute workout because I was enjoying myself so much. A brilliant workout for people who want to have a great time!

Great 30 minute workout

This is my second dvd by the Firm and as usual I wasn't disappointed. It is just 30 minutes, but it was hard work. The thing I was surprised about and will take me time to master, is the amount of core stability you need in this workout. I was expecting the usual lunges and squats but again, the girls at the firm manage to bring out something not seen before. I found the balance aspect of a few of the exercises almost impossible, but I am going to have to practise and master them.

the fantastic two

I was a bit wary of this when I ordered it because im not really into workout dvds but its impossible to know what a dvd is like when you order and you dont find out youve wasted your money until youve played it and then your stuck with it but in this instance I figured 'just suck it and see'...and this one really surprised me, I was glad I gave it a chance. It is fantastic, a real workout with warm up and cool down with all the beginner belly moves you could want to start off with-and boy do I need beginners moves!They are explained clearly and demonstrated enthusiastically . I also love the way you get to see both twins at the same time whilst one is in close up at the front and the other is at the back showing full leg moves etc which you dont always get to see on other belly dvd close ups. Their performance at the end is absolutely spectacular! I ended up just watching them dance over and over the first time, very insipirational - I just wish all belly dvds could be this good and then I wouldnt be so nervous about spending hard earned cash on them. Recommended.

Really felt it the day after!

I love the 10 Minute Solution DVDs, I have three others and then found this one. My only criticism of this particular DVD is that the moves were done so quickly that I had trouble keeping up and sometimes I didnt think they were explained properly. But maybe I will get better at them the more I use the DVD.

Other than that, I really felt it in my muscles the next day which gives me hope that its working! I will persevere and see if can keep up with her next time!

Not that good!!

I am a fan of the TV show Strictly Come Dancing and read the reviews on here so thought I'd buy the DVD.
I wish I hadn't bothered now. Yeah they can dance and some of the dancing is beautiful but it isn't that good to be honest with you. The music is RUBBISH and the dancing is OK with some nice bits here and there but that doesn't constitute to being good.
I personally think this DVD is a waste of money, the music ruins it for me personally. I could watched some of the dancing they do if the music was much better but sadly it wasn't.
It hasn't put me off watching the TV show but I will be careful what I buy in future.

My daughter LOVES this DVD

On Saturday mornings my 6 year old daughter pulls out her yoga mat and turns on Yoga Kids. She's able to follow along and is really proud of herself. It took her a few times of watching it before she really was able to do all the moves, but she loves the DVD. She told me today that there was only one adult in the DVD and it was all kids doing the moves, which really impressed her. I highly recommend this DVD.

Stick with the NYC ballet workout 2

Personally I really like the New York City ballet workout, it's full of wonderful exercises that really do have go results if you stick to it. However the NYC workout 2 is far better than the first disc. On the first disc the commentary is sloppy and terms aren't explained where as the second disc has a video glossary of terms and the commentary keeps up with the dancers (whereas the first one was always 5 seconds early or late which got very confusing.)
My recommendation is to save money and just buy the second dvd - they have corrected all the faults of the first version and it's far superior because of it.

This is without doubt the finest Salsa instructional dvd

This three angle view make learning Salsa so easy.
You can view the whole dvd from the front, back, above angles or just a move.
You can rewind a move & watch it from a different angle.
I also like the memory feature that you can rewind as much of a chapter as you like.
There are twenty-six lessons with each step shown several times with very detailed instruction.
Instruction is given for both males & females steps.
The instruction is from the absolute beginners level through to the most common Miami Cuban Salsa moves.
If you can walk you can dance this style of Salsa.
This video is suitable for Rueda groups & Salsa Casino dancers.
With the review with music chapter. The instructor gives you the chance to practise the steps learned.
Gigi calls out the steps & gives key points as you dance with her to the music.
This is the first Salsa instructional video to do this.
We have had great fun dancing to this chapter.

Finally - a great dvd for intermediates!

This DVD really is a breath of fresh air - if you have a morning practice, then the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii will encourage you out of bed (particularly in winter). This is perfectly pitched for intermediates and incorporates snatches of Ashtanga/Power yoga practices which will improve your stamina. The DVD explores more challenging postures, such as Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon) and Sirsasana (Handstand), and more challenging versions of basic postures, such as Trikonasana (Triangle). Rodney Yee's instructions are clear and provide a great dialogue for experienced yogis to follow.

Definitely a must-have for an intermediates and well worth adding to your collection.

No structure and if you're fit, not worth it!

I bought this and was unimpressed.
The camera shot moves around too much making it difficult to get the moves right and not being a dancer how am I to know what 'kick ball turn' is?

The DVD may be good for those that have done street dancing before but it is far from straight forward. I would also not suggest it to anyone who is fairly fit as just stepping in different directions hardly challenges the heart. Although maybe good if you do nothing else.

Overall I has unimpressed and will stick to Tae Bo which is not dance related but is one of the few DVDs for those with a bit of stamina.

It works

I bought this on VHS video three years ago, and got as far as the warm up and thought, bloody hell, I can't do this!! I was 40, and very unfit. So I went back out and bought a couple of easier cardio/fat burning videos (Jenni Rivett, which I also review on Amazon.) Three years later - and a lot fitter after stopping smoking, taking up jogging and regular exercising - (although I still could do with losing some weight after Christmas) I decided to dust this off and give it another go. I was pleasantly surprised to find I can now just about keep up with the whole program. I have to jog on the spot sometimes rather than do the star jumps and off the floor footwork in the video, but I can more or less do the whole 40 minute routine. Two weeks after starting this and combining it with other DVD's and sensible eating I have lost half a stone, and 3 inches off my waist! It gets less difficult every time I do it and I just ignore the comments and whistling from Army Man. (Why does he keep shouting 'easy' and 'breather'? It isn't easy, and you rarely get a real breather!) Yes, it is hard, and probably boring, but it works. You will work up a real sweat, but afterward you feel incredibly virtuous and when you can actually see results daily it is SO worth it. I combine this video with Callanetics which is worth buying for the stretches alone.